Digger tooth construction



Nov. 25, 1952 M. D. HOSTETTER 2,618,873

DIGGER TOOTH CONSTRUCTION Filed April 26, 1946 2 SHEETS-Sl-1EET 1 i a4MORGAN flfisrsrrse,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 25, 1952 HOSTETTER 2,618,873

DIGGER TOOTH CONSTRUCTION Filed April 26, 1946 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 MOQGA/VD. .HZDSTETTER,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 25, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEBIGGER TOOTH CONSTRUCTION Morgan D. Hostetter, El Monte, Calif.

Application April 26, 1946, Serial No. 665,149

. 14 Claims.

1 My invention relates to an improved digger tooth construction of thecharacter embodied in my application, Serial No. 659,047, filed April2,-

1946, now Patent No. 2,576,225, issued November 27, 1951, and wherein asocketed digging point is removably mounted on a tapered tang of asupporting body carried by the digging bucket or other earth movingimplement, the digging point being releasably locked on the the tang topermit detachment thereof for resharpening or replacement when required.More particularly, my pres ent invention relates to the means forreleasably locking the digging point on the tang.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide, in a digger toothconstruction, a point locking means which embodies a resilient elementand a key rotatable in one direction to occupy one extreme position inwhich it coacts with the resilient element to securely lock the point onthe tang, and to automatically take-up any slack developing between thetwo when in use, and in the other direction to occupy another extremeposition in which the point is released to permit removal thereof fromthe tang.

Another purpose of my invention is the provision of a digger toothconstruction in which the aforesaid point locking means is completelyhoused and thus protected against earth formations damaging or otherwiserendering the mechanism thereof inoperative to effect release of thepoint when desired.

I will describe only one form of digger tooth construction embodying myinvention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

' Fig. 1 is a view showing in perspective one form of digger toothconstruction embodying my inven- Fig. is a view similar to Fig. 3 andtaken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

' Having specific reference to the drawing, my invention in its presentembodiment comprises a supporting body l5 (see Fig. 1) of rectangularform in cross section, but which tapers forwardly 2 from its rear end,the latter being formed with a rearwardly opening socket l6 receiving asupporting boss I! which is suitably fixed to and projects forwardlyfrom the forward edge l8 of a digging bucket.

The body [5 includes an integral and forwardly extending tang I9 alsotapered and bordered at its rear end by shoulders 23. Ahead of the topshoulder and in the upper face of the tang, is a groove 2| disposedalong the major axis of the tang and communicating at its forward endwith a pocket 22. This pocket is of the same depth as the groove but atone side it is widened as at 23 and bounded by a curved Wall 24, and atits end by a straight wall 25. The other side wall 24w of the pocket, isa straight continuation of one side wall of the groove.

Extending upwardly from the bottom face of the tang I9, andcommunicating with the pocket 22, is an opening 26 circular in crosssection and providing a bearing for a stub shaft 2'! which extends intothe pocket where it is provided with a crank 28. The crank seats on thebottom wall of the pocket 22, and its free end is rounded to provide acam 29.

The groove 2| receives a resilient element 30 which may be in the formof a spiral spring, and in the ends of this spring are fitted plugs 3|and 32 having flanges 33 for limiting movement thereof into the springends.

The removable digging point of the tooth'construction which is indicatedat 34, is tapered substantially symmetrically with the taper of the bodyl5, its rear end being formed with a for- Wardly tapering and rearwardlyopening socket 35. This socket is adapted to receive the tang [9 with aclose fit, but with its rear edges spaced from the shoulders 20.

Fixed adjacent the rear upper edge of the point so as to extend into thesocket 35 is a boss or lug 36 of a width to be received in the groove 2|when the tang I9 is seated within the socket 35. As so assembled, accessmay be had to the lower end of the opening 26 through an opening 31 inthe bottom wall of the point 34, for the purpose of extending a suitablewrench (not shown) into a socket 38 in the lower end of the stub shaft21 for turning the crank to cause the cam 29 to compress the spring 30.

In order to mount the point 34 on the tang l 9, the spring 30 with itsplugs 3| and 32, are placed within the groove 2|, and the stub shaft inthe bearing 26, with the crank 28 seated in the pocket 23, and againstthe wall 25. The crank must occupy the extreme position shown in Fig. 5,in

order that the spring may occupy an advanced position in the groove 2|,to permit mounting of the point on the tang.

As will be seen in Fig. 4, in applying the point to the tang, it movesin the direction indicated by the line 39 so that the boss moves along acorresponding line 40. Thus, with the spring 30 in advanced position theboss 36 clears the rear plug 32, and passes downwardly into the rear endof the groove 2|, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 4.

In the final position of the point on the tang, the opening 3'! is inregistration with the opening 26, and thus a suitable Wrench may beextended upwardly into the socket 31. By turning the wrench, the shaft21 can be turned to swing the crack 28 from the extreme position shownin Fig. to the other extreme position shown in Fig. 3, wherein it abutsthe side wall 24a of the groove 2|. Obviously, the curved wall 24permits of this swinging'movement of the crank. In its movement to thisother extreme position the'cam' 29" engages the forward plug 3i andforces it rearwardly, thereby moving the spring 30 rearwardly until therear plug 32 abuts the boss 36, when'the spring is compressed by thecam.

As will be seen in Fig. 3, the crank 28, when abutting the side wall ofthe groove, is in a position which is past the major axis or deadlcenterof the spring so that under the expansive force of the spring as exertedforwardly on the plug 3 l, the crank is held against movement away fromthe groove wall. In consequence, the spring is maintained undercompression to constantly urge .the boss 33 rearwardly, and therebmaintain the point snugl fitted and securely locked on the tang.

Because the crank and spring are housed between" the point and the tang,and the opening 26'is closed by the shaft 21, earth formations cannotenter the pocket 22 to prevent rotation of the cam 29, and thusactuation of the cam to release the point incident to its removal fromthe tang can be performed when required. Also, because of the manner inwhich the spring is housed and associated with the boss and crank,should the spring for any reason break it will still functionto maintainthe point locked on the tang, because, at most, it can only collapse anamount equal to the distance between its convolutions.

Should any slack occur between thepoint and the tang during use of thetooth, the spring which is constantly under tension, will automaticallytake up slack to maintain the point closely fitted on the tang atalltimes.

To remove the-point from the tang for repair or replacement, all thatis' necessary is to turn the crank 28 back to. the extreme positionshown in' Fig. 5, when the boss 36 is relieved of the spring tension,thus allowing the point to be pulled forward and'off of the tang.Obviously, during this point movement the boss pushes the spring forwardso that it can clear the spring plug and thus be withdrawn from thegroove.

Although I have herein shown and described only'one form' of diggertooth construction, it is to be understood that various changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit ofmy invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A digger. tooth construction, including: a body having a tang; adigging point removably fitted onsaid tang; and meansreleasably lockingsaid point on said tang, comprising resilient means between the tang andthe point, and a member between the tan and the resilient meansrotatable about a fixed axis and independently of the tang and the pointfor placing the resilient means under compression.

2. A digger tooth construction, including: a tang; a digging point; andmeans for releasably locking said point on said tang, including anelement on said tang, a second element on said point spaced from theelement on said tang, a compression spring between said elements, and acam between one of said elements and said spring, which is rotatable toload said spring.

3. A digger tooth construction, including: a tang; a digging point; andmeans for releasably locking said point on said tang, including anelement on said tang, a second element on said point spaced from theelement on said tang, a compression spring between said elements, and acam between one of said elements and said spring, which is rotatable inone direction to load said spring and in the other direction to unloadsaid spring.

4. A digger tooth construction, including: a tang; a digging point; andmeans for releasably locking said point on said tang, including anelement on said tang, a second element on said point spaced from theelement on said tang, a compression spring between said elements, and acam between one of said elements and said spring, which is rotatable inone direction to load said spring, and past a dead center position tomaintain said spring loaded and the cam locked by the spring againstrotation in the other direction.

5. A digger tooth construction, including: a tang; a digging point; andmeans for releasably locking said point on said tang, including anelem'ent on said tang, a second element on said point spaced from theelement on said tang, a compression spring between said elements, and acrank rotatable between one of said elements and said spring for loadingsaid spring.

6. A digger tooth construction, including: a tang; a digging point; andmeans for releasably locking said point on said tang, including anelement on said tang, a second element on said point spaced from theelement on said tang, a compression spring between said'elements, and acrank between said spring and one of said elements, which is rotatablein one direction to load said spring, and past a dead center position inrelation to said spring.

7. A digger tooth construction, including: a tang having a groovetherein, a pocket, and a bearing opening; a digging point removablymounted on said tang, and having a boss there on within said groove; ashaft rotatable in said opening; a crank in said pocket, and fixed tosaid shaft; and a compression spring within'said groove between saidboss and said crank.

8. A digger tooth construction; including: a tang; a digging pointenclosin said tang; a boss on said point between the latter and saidtang; a sprin in said tang engaging said boss; and a cam between saidspring and said tang, said cam rotatable in said tang to place and holdsaid spring under compression to force said boss rearwardly of said tangand said point rearwardly on said tang. as a consequence.

9. A digger tooth construction as embodied in claim 8, wherein said tanand said point are formed. with openings bywhich access to said cam-ishad for actuation thereof.

10. A digger tooth construction, including: a tang having a groovetherein, a pocket, and a bearing; a digging point removably, mounted onsaid tang, and having a boss within said groove; a shaft rotatable insaid bearing; a crank in said pocket and fixed to said shaft; a cam onsaid crank; a compression spring within said groove between said bossand said cam; a socket in said shaft; and said point having an openintherein through which said socket is accessible by a wrench to turn saidshaft to cause said cam to load or unload said spring.

11. A digger tooth construction. including: a tang; a digging point; andmeans for locking said point on said tang, including an element on saidtang, a second element on said point spaced from the element on saidtang, a spiral spring between said elements, plugs in the ends of saidspring, and a cam rotatable between one of said elements and one of saidplugs for loading said spring.

12. A digger tooth construction as embodied in claim 11, wherein saidplugs are provided with flanges for limiting movement thereof into theends of said spring. 1

13. A digger tooth construction, including: a tang; a digging point; andmeans for releasably locking said point on said tang, including anelement fixed on said tang, a second element fixed on said point andspaced from the element on said tang, resilient means between saidelements, and a member rotatable between one of said elements and theresilient means for placing the resilient means under compression.

14. A digger tooth construction, including: a

tang; a digging point removably mounted on said tang, and meansreleasably locking said point on said tang, including a crank rotatablein said tang, said point having an openin therein; and a shaft fixed tosaid crank so as to be accessible through said opening by a tool torotate said crank.

MORGAN D. I IOSTETTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

